Vilkyškiai

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VILKYŠKIAI

County : Tauragė
Municipality : Pagėgiai

Official blazon

Origin/meaning

The arms were officially granted on May 16, 2006.

The arms refer to the Lithuanian books printed in Lithuania Minor and smuggled during night time to Great Lithuania. From 1864-1904 the Lithuanian language and Lithuanian prints were prohibited in the Russian Empire. So Lithuanians used to print books in Lithuania Minor (which wads a part of Germany), smuggle them over the border of the empire and distributed them through the net of underground organizations, called "knygnesiai" ("book carriers"). All this activity was strictly persecuted, but the most dangerous point on the way was crossing the border, where book carriers seriously risked their lives. Vilkyskiai, the border town of Lithuania Minor, was an important point of this "noble smuggling". The 8-pointed stars refer to the night and also symbolize revival and knowledge.